By Olivia Hesslein, News Correspondent
The roughly 3,000 members of Northeastern’s class of 2016 won out among 43,000 applicants this spring, and university officials say they represent the most academically advanced class ever admitted.
Northeastern has been on a decade-long rise in popularity, receiving more applicants every year, according to statistics from the university’s enrollment office. Last spring, officials said Northeastern was quickly becoming a “first-choice school” among prospective students, thanks to programs like co-op that offer a chance to gain career experience before entering an increasingly competitive job market.
“It’s becoming harder and harder for high school seniors because no matter how hard you work in high school, how many AP classes you take, there is always someone who’s outdone you,” undeclared freshman Brooke Lyman said.
Lyman said getting into Northeastern was important because of the programs here that would give her an advantage after graduation.
“Co-op was obviously a big part of why I wanted to go to Northeastern,” she said.
Prospective students have been taking notice, as applications rose from about 27,000 in 2006 to nearly 43,000 this year, the most of any private university in the country.
Northeastern admitted 3,097 freshmen this year, higher than the 2,800 administrators predicted in the spring. By comparison, last year’s freshman class was 2,836 students, and 2,833 in 2009.
“When you have over 43,000 applicants, you certainly are going to be more selective in decision making,” Vice President of Enrollment Services Jane Brown said. She said this class has the highest academic profile of any Northeastern class so far.
The Class of 2016 has an average combined math and English SAT score of 1341, and an average high school GPA of a 4.2 on an unweighted scale.
The amount of honors students in the freshman class also rose to 580 students this fall, up from 543 in 2010 and 296 in 2009.
“The Honors Program has morphed into a multi-faceted opportunity for students,” Maureen Kelleher, associate professor and director of the Honors Program, said. “The profiles of students who apply to the school are very strong. They go through the rigorous admissions process,”she said. “They have taken Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school.”
This class also has the most international students thus far, about 20 percent of the freshmen.
Brown said Northeastern counts on an increasingly competitive set of applicants and the strength of their co-op and experiential learning programs to attract a quality class.
“Students and parents recognize more and more how the integration of learning and experience is so important,” Brown said. “This year’s class is incredibly innovative and entrepreneurial. They want to get in and do. They have a more global point of view of the world.”
